SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A 65-year-old man is dead and two others are injured after being stung by bees while working in Scottsdale.
At around 9:30 a.m. Monday, Scottsdale fire crews were called to the Vi at Silverstone Independent Living facility near Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak roads for reports of multiple bee stings.
When firefighters arrived, they found three people who were in need of medical care.
Officials say Nicolas Lopez Soto and another worker were "reportedly using a lift to remove stucco from a side column near the roof area when the bee attack happened."
According to police, the workers were stung by bees and used the lift to return to the ground.
"By the time the lift was on the ground, Soto was unconscious. He was removed from the lift, and CPR was performed at the scene until he could be transported to the hospital by fire crews," Scottsdale police said.
Soto was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other two workers were taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Police say Soto was wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and boots. He was found with numerous bee stings on exposed areas of his body as well as stings on areas covered by clothing.
The other man working with Soto on the lift had about two dozen bee stings on his body, according to officials.
The third man with the work crew also had about a dozen bee stings and was taken to a hospital.
Scottsdale police say, "The facility had contracted the men to prepare the exterior of the column wall for a beekeeper to address a beehive concern on July 8."
The cause of death for Soto remains under investigation.
